Emotions can be confusing, and when they feel out of control and affect your behavior, you might need to speak with someone who can help you understand what you are experiencing. Seeking help from a mental health professional can be invaluable for addressing a variety of feelings and symptoms.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health and are trained to assess your symptoms and provide you with a diagnosis. Once diagnosed, they will discuss with you whether medication – and what kind - is appropriate to support your treatment. Working together with your psychiatrist will help you overcome feelings and behaviors that may be limiting your personal growth and impacting the quality of your life.
If medication is recommended, psychiatrists are qualified to prescribe it. Medication may be prescribed to treat many conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions.
Read on to learn about how a psychiatrist differs from a psychologist, considerations about when to see a psychiatrist, and what to expect from a session.
It is easy to confuse the terms “psychiatrist” and “psychologist,” but they are different in a few significant ways.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have trained for at least 12 years and specialize in diagnosing and treating mental illnesses through various modalities including medication, therapy, and neuromodulation with medication. After college, aspiring psychiatrists must attend medical school and then complete a four-year psychiatrymedical residency. These credentials allow psychiatrists to diagnose and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders such as anxiety, depression, and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Clinical psychologists are not trained as medical doctors. Clinical psychologists spend five to seven years studying psychotherapy, counseling, and the administration and interpretation of psychological testing. They are not licensed to prescribe medication. Instead, psychologists generally help individuals through talk therapy. They may use techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychoanalytic therapy to help patients manage thought and behavioral difficulties through the development of coping skills.
If you need psychiatric medication management or other medical treatment, a psychologist might refer you to a licensed psychiatrist.
Many patients turn to their family physician for psychiatric medications. This frequently occurs because many patients have difficulty accessing psychiatric care. However, you may also benefit from an evaluation by a psychiatrist. As part of their training, psychiatrists learn how the body interacts with and absorbs, distributes, and metabolizes psychiatric medication. They are also well-versed in how common medications interact with psychiatric medications.
Like your family physician, psychiatrists are licensed medical doctors, andbut they have significantly more training when prescribing medication such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers. The additional expertise offered by a psychiatrist may help you feel better faster. Additionally, sometimes a person may be prescribed the wrong type of medication for their mental health, which may lead to worsened results, so it is important to arrive at the correct diagnosis in order to receive the appropriate treatment.
At Talkiatry, our psychiatrists will work with you to find and maintain the right medication. You will meet regularly to discuss how you are feeling and any side effects you have experienced. There may be a need for adjustments ofto dosage or combining more than one medication to achieve the desired effect, and your psychiatrist will guide you through the process.
You may feel as though you need help with an emotional challenge, but you maymaybe think the situation does not warrant seeking out a consultation with a mental health professional. Mental health can be complex, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer regarding when to see a psychiatrist. But it might be a good time to explore getting care if you are experiencing a situation like one of the following:
Not sure if you need to see a specialist? This list will give you an idea of what type of psychiatrist may best help you. Your primary care doctor may also help with a referral for a psychiatrist.
Addiction psychiatry: Focuses on evaluating, diagnosing, and treating people suffering from addiction disorders.
Child and adolescent psychiatry: Focuses on diagnosing and treating behavioral disorders in children and teens.
Geriatric psychiatry: Focuses on evaluating, diagnosing, preventing, and treating emotional and mental disorders in elderly adults aged 65 and older.
Neuropsychiatry: Focuses on the relationship between psychiatry and neurology, which is the study and treatment of nervous system disorders, especially the brain.
Occupational psychiatry: Focuses on how using psychiatric knowledge can help individuals in the workplace and organizations function better on a day-to-day basis.
Currently, 20% of people in the U.S. live with a mental health condition. Despite this number, only half of individuals seek help. Many people are reluctant to get help for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, there is still some stigma that surrounds mental illness, which can contribute to being afraid of getting help.
You might be reluctant to seek help because of a prior bad experience. Sometimes personalities do not mesh, or you may not have felt like you were making progress. Another reason could be the hesitation to share deeply personal information and thoughts with a stranger.
It can be difficult to seek treatment for fear of being judged or not clicking with a mental health professional. At Talkiatry, there is no obligation to stay with a doctor who is not a good fit for you. We can help you match with another psychiatrist from our highly qualified medical staff who is a better fit.
Another thing that can cause hesitation is the cost. Using your health insurance can make treatment affordable. Talkiatry accepts a wide range of insurance carriers.
Mental health problems may worsen if help is not accessible because of distance or lack of convenience. Fortunately, telepsychiatry is an excellent option that allows you to consult with a psychiatrist from the comfort and convenience of your home. If therapy is part of your care plan, Talkiatry offers the flexibility of teletherapy.
You have finally decided to see a psychiatrist for the first time and have an appointment. Your first session should be about an hour. Your psychiatrist will ask a series of questions about feelings, thoughts, and behaviors to help identify symptoms and make a diagnosis. It may take several sessions for your psychiatrist to be sure of your diagnosis.
Your doctor will want to get as much information about your medical history as possible to provide the best treatment method. Your psychiatrist may also do blood and urine tests to better understand your physical health. This assists with determining which medication may work best for you and the right dosage to use when prescribing your psychiatric medications.
A typical psychiatric evaluation lasts 45 to 90 minutes. After that, your psychiatrist will determine a treatment plan to help you manage your mental health symptoms based on evaluation results.
With Talkiatry, professional help is available at your fingertips if you have decided to see a psychiatrist. Our trained psychiatrists can help you face life’s challenges. We provide accessible mental healthcare solutions to help you achieve mental wellness.
Please take a few minutes to complete our assessment. Based on your unique needs, we will match you with one of our psychiatrists to help you manage and treat your symptoms. We offer flexible appointment options, such as telemedicine and soon, in-person visits for your convenience.
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